Face masks will no longer have to be worn on flights and in airports in EU countries from next Monday, according to new official guidance. The move is in line with changing anti-Covid policies on public transport across Europe, said the EU Aviation Safety Agency (Easa). Rules have been relaxed in countries including France, Italy and Bulgaria. Some US airlines did the same in April after a federal judge threw out the government’s mask mandate. “From next week, face masks will no longer need to be mandatory in air travel in all cases, broadly aligning with the changing requirements of national authorities across Europe for public transport,” EASA executive director Patrick Ky said. “It is a relief to all of us that we are finally reaching a stage in the pandemic where we can start to relax the health safety measures,” he added. But the new guidance came with some cautionary advice from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).(BBC)…[+]

A veteran Palestinian-American correspondent for Al Jazeera has been killed while covering a raid by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank. The Qatar-based network said Shireen Abu Aqla was shot “deliberately” and “in cold blood” by Israeli troops in Jenin. Her producer was also wounded. Israel’s prime minister said it was “likely” they were shot by Palestinian gunmen during an exchange of fire. It comes amid a surge in violence between Israel and the Palestinians. The Palestinian president said he held the Israeli government fully responsible for what he described as a “crime of execution”.Shireen Abu Aqla, 51, was widely known and widely admired – by viewers and colleagues alike. Early on Wednesday morning she went to the Jenin refugee camp to report on a raid by Israeli soldiers and security forces, which the Israeli military said was conducted to apprehend “terrorist suspects”. “During the activity, tens of Palestinian gunmen fired at and hurled explosive devices toward the soldiers. The soldiers responded with fire toward the gunmen and hits were identified,” a military statement said. The Palestinian health ministry said Abu Aqla was hit in the head by a live bullet during the raid. She was taken to hospital in a critical condition and later pronounced dead.(BBC)…[+]

Right from the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Snake Island was given a vital and almost mythical status in the war. This unremarkable, rocky outcrop in the Black Sea was seized by Russia and has become a battleground of strategic value. Russia claims Ukraine has sustained disastrous losses in a failed bid to recapture the island, including special forces, warplanes, helicopters, drones. Ukraine insists it has limited its campaign to attacking facilities on the island and boats. The battle is not over and Russia is repeatedly trying to reinforce its exposed garrison, says UK defence ministry intelligence. Snake or Zmiinyi Island is a fraction of a square kilometre in size and there are no more snakes to speak of. But there can be no doubt of its importance for control of the western Black Sea.(BBC)…[+]